Activision Blizzard Inc. has launched a film and TV studio to create original content based on its popular video game franchises such as "Call of Duty" and "Hearthstone" in its latest push to expand beyond console-based games.

Activision Blizzard Studios' first production will be "Skylanders Academy," an animated TV series based on the company's toys-to-life video game "Skylanders," the company said in a statement.

A "near-term" project for the video game-maker's film and TV studio will be to develop a movie franchise based on the hugely successful military first-person shooter "Call of Duty."

The company said it would also consider adapting the franchise for TV.

"Warcraft," Activision's other well-known game franchise, is already being made into a film through a partnership between its Blizzard Entertainment unit and Legendary Pictures, and is slated for a 2016 release.

Activision said last month it would start an e-sports division to tap into the fast-growing competitive gaming market, where gamers play against each other for prize money.